Listen: fDeluxe - "Over The Canyon"

Those who don't need the proverbial "way back machine" will remember the mid-80's being heavily influenced by "The Minneapolis Sound", sleek pop/funk fueled primarily by Prince and his expanding band of collaborators -- The Time, Appolonia, Wendy and Lisa -- along with the production crew of "Jimmy Jam" Harris and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, The Human League). And there was The Family, the first band signed by Prince to his Paisley Park label. Fronted by blue-eyed soulman "St. Paul" Peterson and backed by Susannah Melvoin (twin sister of Wendy) on keyboards and vocals, Time drummer Jellybean Johnson and Eric Leeds on sax, their single self-titled '85 album drew attention from Prince fans for the lush funk/jazz. But the big deal, in retrospect, was the first appearance of "Nothing Compares to U" -- a song that went on to become a huge hit for Sinead O'Connor five years later. And so? Well, history aside, the core members of The Family have reunited under the moniker of fDeluxe, recorded some new tunes and an album -- Gaslight -- is due September 27. We think that "Over The Canyon" captures that classic sound. Dig.

fDeluxe - "Over the Canyon" (from Gaslight)